Burglary Suspect Tasered, Another Arrested After Car Chase

Two 18-year-olds have been arrested by Sarasota Police and charged with auto burglary.

On Oct. 26, at about 2:30 a.m., a woman living in the 1800 block of Prospect Street was awakened by her barking dog. 

According to police, she looked outside and observed that someone was inside of her parked vehicle. She also observed a suspicious vehicle with its headlights off parked in the roadway near her vehicle.

The victim called 911. The first officer, Officer Jonathan Vanik, arrived on the scene less than one minute after the call was dispatched. The victim advised that the suspect vehicle left westbound on Prospect towards Osprey Avenue seconds before the officer arrived.

According to police, Officer Matthew Kimball located a vehicle driving in the same area that matched the description of the vehicle observed by the victim of the auto burglary. Kimball followed the vehicle as it made several turns and onto Osprey Avenue.

Kimball, police said, activated this marked police car’s emergency lights. The vehicle, however, did not stop.

Police said the driver attempted to turn onto Lincoln Drive, but the road was closed for bridge repairs and the vehicle became stuck on construction debris.

The driver, later identified as 18-year-old Alex Velez, opened the driver’s side door and took off running. According to police, the passenger then moved into the driver position and drove off, southbound on Osprey Avenue.

Kimball, police said, chased after the original driver. The foot chase continued over a fence and through neighborhood yards and ended after Kimball tasered Velez.

Police said Kimball also found a container with four bags of a white substance that tested positive for cocaine along the path where Velez had run.

Meanwhile, Officer Gregory Miller pursued the fleeing vehicle driven by 18-year-old Eduardo Lugo. 

According to police, the fleeing vehicle turned northbound on S. Tamiami Trail, lost control and crashed in the 1900 block of Mound Street. 

Miller arrested Lugo, as Lugo crawled away from the crashed vehicle.

Lugo, 300 block of 59th Ave E. Bradenton was arrested for auto burglary, fleeing to elude and driving while license suspended with knowledge of the suspicion.

Velez, 2900 block of 33rd Avenue W., Bradenton, was arrested and charged for auto burglary, resisting arrest without violence (obstruction), no valid driver’s license, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.